At what age should you get/
adopt a new kitten:
Many new owners want kittens
as young as possible for various
different reasons.
It is very important in the social
developmental process for the
kittens, that they stay with the
queens for the first 10 weeks at
least.
Many social queues are taught by
the mother from 4 weeks of age
starting from her teaching the
kittens how to interact appropriately with her, then other cats
and lastly other species like dogs
and people.
A kitten obtained very young often does not have well developed
social behaviour and can become
very needy, not interact well
with other cats, inappropriately
interact with people and other
animals. This can be one of the
many causes of aggression in an
adult cat.
I got all my cats at 12 weeks old
and they are well socialised with
each other and have established
a hierarchy within my living
space.
If a breeder wants to sell you a
kitten at 5 to 6 weeks, ask them
if they can keep your kitten longer so the kitten can learn from
its mother.
Many pet shops/breeders sell
kittens as early as possible and
take the kittens away from their
mother at this early age as they
want to sell these kittens before
they require their first vaccinations and hence they make a
bigger profit.
With a long life ahead of you
with this new kitten, a few weeks
delay in introducing the cat into
your home is negligible if you
think about the years of problems
you can have with a cat who has
poor social development.
Why Own a Cat?
There’s a danger you know.
You can’t own just one, for the craving will grow.
There’s no doubt they’re addictive,
Wherein lies the danger,
While living with lots, you’ll grow poorer and stranger.
One cat is not trouble, and two are so funny,
The third one is easy, the fourth one’s a honey
The fifth is delightful, the sixth ones’s a breeze.
You find you can live with a houseful, with ease.
So how ‘bout another? Would you really dare?
They’re really quite easy, but Oh Lord, the hair!
With cats on the sofa and cats on the bed,
And crates in the kitchen, its no bother, you said.
They’re really no trouble, their manners are great.
What’s just one more cat and one more little crate?
The sofa is hairy, the windows are crusty.
The floor is all footprints, the furniture’s dusty.
The housekeeping suffers, but what do you care?
Who minds a few noseprints and a little more hair?
So let’s keep a kitten, you can always find room.
And a little more time for the dust cloth and broom.
There’s hardly a limit to the cats you can add,
the thought of a cutback, sure makes you feel sad.
Each one is special, so useful, so funny,
The food bill grows larger, you owe the vet money.
Be sure to read the
March/ April issue of Kittycat
magazine for Part 2